After wargaming for about 58 years I’m now considering several issues when thinking about new projects. One is how much use I might get from a new pair of armies – I only wargame with others a couple of times a month, perhaps the same for solo games. I also have very arthritic fingers so […]
Author: Brian Cameron
I've been wargaming for over 50 years, often solo. I've written lots of games and rules, some published, and articles in the wargames press.
50 Years
I’ve just noticed that this year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Solo Wargamers Association. Good that it is still going though sadly the blog isn’t terribly active. That’s a bit odd as there appears to be more solo games (including solo/coop) and more rules making provision to play solo (The Men […]
Guards! Guards!
by Brian Cameron I’ve been playing Firefly Adventures: Brigands and Browncoats again. It can be played coop or solo and the mechanic for non-played figures could be useful in other games. The opposition are Brawlers or Shooters and, as with your own figures, take two actions each turn. Brawlers will brawl with one of your […]
Currently I’m working on
by Brian Cameron As usual I’ve several projects on the go. When you go down to the Woods is a French-Indian Wars game partly inspired by Mark’s games using Featherstone’s ‘Close War’ rules. The game is intended to be a journey (as in e.g., the film Last of the Mohicans, the other inspiration) in which […]
Lone Warrior 222
Another diverse and interesting issue. My interest was particularly caught by George Banic’s article. George – John’s advice was spot on. It’s always interesting to see how someone approaches a campaign, set of rules, whatever. The alternative history approach is interesting and the Wittelsbach family certainly provide plenty of possibilities. Maximillian II opposed unification under […]
Stingray!
I was disappointed to read in LW #220 Rob Morgan repeating the imperialist perspective trotted out by that propaganda tool ‘Stingray’. Let’s take a look at the real situation. The oceans are home to a number of civilisations, in particular Titanica. The World Aquanaut Security Patrol (WASP) considers that it is free to ‘patrol’ the […]
Change of Editor
By Brian Cameron That’s not a title one can use often in the SWA given Rich Barbuto has been in post for 27 years. May I extend my thanks and congratulations for all the hard work you’ve put in over that time. My personal thanks also for an enthusiastic reception when I first wrote a […]
Lone Warrior No. 216
By Brian Cameron Well, that was a cracking read! I think Martin Smith is harsh on himself — I think there’s a lot of creativity and imagination on display in the ‘What’s in a name?’ article. And I’d suggest — in a completely unbiased manner, being a scientist myself — that science involves a lot […]
Wargames Illustrated #403
By Brian Cameron The current issue has an interesting article, “I’m sorry Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that,” about applying solo AI systems to two-player games. There are some nice ideas which can obviously be used in solo games. In passing he reviews “Hostile Tactical AI” which looks interesting though it’s aimed at skirmish […]
More on banana oil
By Brian Cameron Oddly, a day or so after my last post, a friend asked me about banana oil, which prompted me to look into the subject. You can get the genuine article here: https://www.addlestone-models.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=oil%20banana&PN=BANANA%2DOIL%2D125ML%2DBO%2D125%2Ehtml#SID=84 However, it’s worth noting that banana oil is a form of amyl acetate which is used in nail varnish. So […]